Carefree Outdoor Living Without the Mosquitoes –
or a Toxic Mosquito Repellent

Those nasty mosquitoes can drive even the sanest person "crazy." And it's really not a good idea to spray a bunch of chemicals on your skin to solve the problem.

But at the same time, I realize that gazillions of mosquitoes can become so annoying that you'll find yourself willing to spray anything on!

So when daylight transitions to evening – or anytime the bugs are bugging you – Dr. Mercola's Bug Spray offers just the solution you need in a formulation free of DEET.

DEET in Mosquito Repellents – More Dangerous Than You Think!

DEET (N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) is a chemical that was patented by the US Army in 1946 and is still widely recognized as an effective mosquito repellent. In fact, most commercial insect repellents are made of varying concentrations of DEET.

Every year approximately one-third of the American population uses insect repellents to deter mosquitoes and other pests. Currently, DEET is used in up to 230 different products in concentrations of up to an astounding 100%.

However, all is not well with DEET…

DEET is a pesticide intended to kill insects! In case that idea by itself doesn't scare you, read on to discover the health issues it is known to cause.

If It Melts Plastics…

Please don't use DEET.

DEET sprays can melt plastic bags and fishing lines. Does that make you wonder what it can do to you?

He discovered that prolonged exposure to DEET can impair cell function in parts of your brain – demonstrated in the lab by death and behavioral changes in rats with frequent or prolonged use.

When these rats had their skin treated with the average human dosage equivalent (40 mg/kg body weight) of DEET, they performed far worse than control rats on physical tests requiring muscle control, strength, and coordination.

This is consistent with reports of symptoms after military use of DEET in the Persian Gulf War.

Exposure causes neurons to die in several parts of your brain – including areas that control muscle movement, memory, concentration and learning. Abou-Donia says rats given small doses of DEET for 60 days had a harder time accomplishing even the easiest tasks, things as simple as walking.

Heavy exposure to DEET and other insecticides can cause eye and skin irritation, memory loss, headaches, weakness, fatigue, muscle/joint pain, nausea, tremors, and shortness of breath. Symptoms can appear months or even years after use.

Abou-Donia believes that although short-term exposure to DEET might not be harmful, he warns against ever using any product with more than a 30 percent concentration. To me, even that seems a dangerous and risky amount to use.

But wait! It gets worse…

Worse Than DEET

"We found that the combined exposure to DEET and other chemicals is more dangerous than just DEET alone," says Abou-Donia.

Insecticides aren't the only problem though. Skin care products containing various chemicals can put you at increased risk of chemical contamination with DEET. Products you use on a daily basis, like deodorants, soaps, make-up and sunscreens, when combined with DEET, create greater exposure than DEET alone.

Medications, both prescription and over the counter, can also react with DEET and increase your risk of problems.

Long-term and regular use of DEET – especially combined with these other chemicals or medications – can cause brain deficiencies in vulnerable groups, particularly children.

Children are more susceptible than adults to subtle brain changes caused by chemicals in their environment, because their skin more readily absorbs them. Their still-developing nervous systems are potentially more affected.

Never, ever, ever use any DEET-containing product on infants! And be very hesitant to use it on anyone who you care about – including yourself.

Many Potential Hazards Lurk in Commercial Mosquito Repellents

Other potential hazards lurk in commercial bug sprays.

Other potential hazards can lurk in commercial bug sprays, such as the chemical permethrin. It's part the synthetic pyrethroid family, all of which are neurotoxins.

At relatively high doses, its effects are known to include tremors, loss of coordination, elevated body temperature, aggressive behavior, and learning disruption. Even at sub-lethal doses it can cause aggressive behavior, disruption of eating habits, and agitation. Lab results suggest that it is more dangerous for children than adults.

The Environmental Protection Agency labeled it as a carcinogen because it causes lung tumors in female mice and liver tumors in mice of both sexes. It's also implicated in chromosome abnormalities in human and hamster cells, and hinders immune function.

But that's not all. It causes environmental damage too.

Permethrin is toxic to honeybees and other beneficial insects, fish, crayfish, and shrimp. It causes deformities in tadpoles and reduces the number of oxygen-carrying cells in the blood of birds. Unfortunately it's found in streams and rivers throughout the United States.

I'm sure you can agree that using sprays containing permethrin is not only bad for you, but bad for the environment!

Then there's S.D. alcohol, used as an anti-bacterial agent, denatured by toxic solvents such as acetone, turpentine and benzene which make it poisonous in moderate to large amounts. Ingestion may cause nausea, vomiting, impaired perception, stupor, coma, and death.

And that's just for starters…

Menaces Without Names

Oh… and have you heard about "inert ingredients?"

Product containers tell you that it contains a certain percentage of inert ingredients. Two popular commercial insect repellent brands have unspecified inert ingredient levels of 68% and 77%.

Unfortunately, it's impossible to know for sure what "inert" includes, since companies choose not disclose it on their labels or to the public. Care to speculate?

Turns out there's a much better alternative for you and your loved ones… Because it really doesn't have to be a choice of either mosquitoes or poisons. You can be rid of both!

Anti-Insect Alternative for Carefree Outdoor Living

Effective against the harassment of biting insects!

Knowing that you'd be appalled to use insect repellents containing DEET and other suspect ingredients (revealed or not) – yet that you might just get annoyed enough to consider it anyway – I knew I had to find a better option for you.

Dr. Mercola's Bug Spray is chemical-free, has an appealing scent, and is effective against the harassment of biting insects! Plus, it's not harmful to the environment.

It's specially formulated for effectiveness against mosquitoes, fleas, chiggers, ticks, and other biting insects – giving you back your freedom to enjoy the great outdoors.

Mosquito Repellent Special Ingredients

Each active ingredient in this special formulation of Dr. Mercola's Bug Spray is a known bug repellent, so you can feel totally confident in using it freely. You'll love how gentle it is.

Citronella, lemongrass oil, and peppermint oil have been known to be effective bug deterrents for many years. Many people also consider pure vanillin to be effective against mosquitoes. But vanilla combined with citronella, lemongrass oil, and peppermint oil – now there's a smart combination.

Citronella: Oil of citronella has been used for over 50 years as an insect repellent. It protects you from insects without harming or killing them. Citronella's distinctive odor may make it difficult for pests to locate a host. Oil of citronella has been used extensively since 1948 without reports of adverse side effects or concern.

Lemongrass Oil: Lemongrass oil is an herb widely cultivated in the tropics and subtropics, long appreciated for its ability to repel insects. It has an amazingly fresh, earthy and lemony scent. The amount of citral, the aldehyde responsible for its lemon scent, determines its quality.

If you have sensitivity to lemongrass, please do not use this product.

Peppermint Oil: Researchers in India – a nation with a large mosquito problem – discovered that peppermint oil is effective as more than a flavoring or digestive aid. It also repels adult mosquitoes and kills the larvae. It has been particularly effective against the Anopheles culicifacies mosquito, which is a tyrannical menace in the northern plains of India.

Vanillin: Vanillin (the real deal, not imitation vanilla!) is also considered a substance that keeps bugs at bay, and is included in the Bug Spray formulation.

Because Dr. Mercola's Bug Spray doesn't contain neurotoxins or other dangerous or suspicious ingredients, you can apply generously without fear of reactions or long-term issues. Caveat: Do not use this product if you are sensitive to lemongrass.

A Scent You Can Enjoy Using

Besides that – it smells great! Lemon is the dominant scent in Bug Spray. So instead of feeling repelled from even the idea of protecting yourself from bugs, you can reach for Bug Spray with the confidence that you won't be walking around smelling like a chemical factory the rest of the evening.

Of course, no matter how great it smells, you won't use it if it doesn't work. Not to worry. Because Bug Spray is…

Equal to the Job!

Yes! There is a product that's as effective as DEET!

In fact, an independent study showed Bug Spray to be more effective than a product containing 100% DEET.

According to the lab results, unprotected subjects received an average of 16 bites per hour. Subjects using products containing DEET received an average of 2.78 bites per hour, while the Bug Spray test subjects received less than one bite per hour (approximately 1/5 of one bite per hour).

When tested in rainy conditions, the DEET-based products had to be re-applied to remain effective (re-exposing people to even greater amounts of DEET). But the Bug Spray formulation stayed effective without reapplication.

So, who needs DEET anyway? And who wants the exposure to those chemicals?

Great for Kids, Too!

Many pediatricians are actively recommending Bug Spray for young children. (Of course, consult your own pediatrician before using on an infant less than six months old.)

Protect yourself, and your child this spring and summer – from insects and potentially dangerous chemicals – with Dr. Mercola's Bug Spray. Everyone enjoys a more carefree and comfortable summer.

Sports Lovers Love Dr. Mercola's Bug Spray, Too

Outdoor sports lovers, fishermen, campers, hikers and bikers – and anyone who loves being outdoors – all love Bug Spray because it works! Even in the rain!

Anglers in particular love it because it doesn't have plasticizers that melt their fishing lines, even when sprayed directly on the lines. And when it was sprayed directly onto the lures, the bass still continued to bite!

The bass are fine with it, and so is the rest of the environment.

Eco-Friendly Outdoor Recreation

Dr. Mercola's Bug Spray is your environmentally responsible way to enjoy the outdoors this summer. It's not toxic to you, your children, your yard, or your planet! You only have one life and one planet – yours to protect as well as enjoy.

Many eco-parks and geographic regions, particularly in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America, now require lotions and sprays to be bio-degradable. They are trying to preserve their natural habitat for future generations, and many actively prohibit DEET and permethrin-based products.

What's wise to do at an eco-park is also wise to do in your own backyard and neighborhood, and at the parks and lakes you visit and use locally too.

Everyone Loves Mosquito Repellents – You Will, Too!

Adults, kids, sportsmen, tourists… everyone loves Bug Spray.

Just try Dr. Mercola's Bug Spray for yourself. The mosquitoes are already hatched and biting. They'll be around for the next four months or so. Wherever your summer outdoor living takes you, enjoy it more and protect yourself with Bug Spray.

So order today and see for yourself how effective, great-smelling and safe Dr. Mercola's Bug Spray is. And how much more enjoyable the outdoors can be without the bugs bugging you.

Ultra-Affordable Outdoor Comfort

I'm sure you're wondering just how much it will cost for you to enjoy greater outdoor comfort than you ever thought possible… freedom from the bugs, sunburn, and worry about exposing you and your family to chemicals.

I'm happy to announce that your best outdoor comfort ever is possible for a very affordable price.

Order your bottle of Dr. Mercola’s Broad Spectrum Sunscreen, Tanning Oil, Aloe Vera, or Bug Spray at these low prices – a small amount for the peace of mind and comfort these products offer.

For your best deal, plan ahead and make sure you have enough sunscreen and bug spray on hand for all your summer outdoor adventures for your entire family. Order our Summer Survival kit, which includes two bottles of Dr. Mercola’s Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30andtwo bottles of Dr. Mercola's Bug Spray. Not only will you save big, but you'll also get a FREE refillable Travel Bottle.

So hurry! The mosquitoes are biting, but they don't have to chew on you! The sun is shining, but it doesn't have to burn you.

Make the most of those carefree – and now comfortable! – days of summer. Order now.

Natural Aloe Vera
8 fl oz (236 ml)

Natural Tanning Oil
8 fl oz (236 ml)

Out of Stock Notice: Due to high demand, these products are temporarily out of stock. We expect to have a supply soon, so please keep posted. Thank you for supporting Mercola.com!

Natural Sunblock Stick for Face SPF 30: 1 stick

Natural Sunblock Stick for Lips SPF 30: 1 stick

I am so confident that you will be more than satisfied with your purchase of my Dr. Mercola's Bug Spray, I am providing a Lifetime Satisfaction Guarantee!

The Lifetime Satisfaction Guarantee allows you to receive a full refund* (less shipping charges) when you return an item within 60 days as long as the product is in its original packaging and has at least half of the product remaining. Products returned after 60 days that have at least half of the product remaining will receive store credit (less shipping charges).

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using this product.

Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of Dr. Mercola, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Mercola and his community. Dr. Mercola encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

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